QR Codes and Google Forms. A Brilliant Combination!!

Google Formatives and Google Summatives!  More ways to use Your Smarticles!!

Here's ANOTHER great idea.  Using Google Forms to collect and  analyze genetic traits of a class!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Discovering-Your-Genetic-Traits-Lab-using-QR-Codes-1085990

google-site-verification: googleeb04afba9f5ed7a4.html

The Google Form | Create Infographics

A Bullpen of Tech – Pitch a Winner this School Year!

The Starter

Remind 101

Stretch and wind up for the pitch with Remind 101!  Remind 101 is a text messaging service that can ‘push’ text and e-mail notifications.  Build an account for your class (or classes) and remind students (and/or parents) of important upcoming events, tests/quizzes and things to remember.  This terrific tool will put it in the wheelhouse for both parents and students alike!  

The Crowd Pleaser

Geocaching.  

Everyone loves the challenge of a treasure hunt, and that’s exactly what Geocaching delivers!  Armed with Smart Devices, Geocaching allows users to ‘seek’ hidden treasures worldwide.  But Geocaching isn’t only about seeking, send a trackable on a journey and log the journey throughout the year!  I just released one for our class!  Dedicate a ‘bug’ to your class and plant it into a local cache in your area.(There are over 2,000,000 caches worldwide).  Throughout the year, log/record the journey of the bug.  Deliver some chin music and really make ‘em think with Geocaching!   Read this previous post for more ideas!

The Knuckleballer

Where’s George? This lesser known site has long been a two seam fastball in my class for a couple of years.  (See blog entry) Where’s George is a currency tracking project.  Students can launch a dollar bill and track it’s movement through this site.  As the bill is spent, Where’s George fans record the Serial Number allowing users to see various stats related to the bill (location, distance traveled, time, etc.)  This intriguing site will enhance your curriculum, integrate tech and like a knuckleball, they’ll never see it coming! 

Download this great worksheet 

The Closer

Looking for that ONE piece of tech that can be a game changer?  QR Codes are truly deliver a brush back pitch that’ll get their attention!!  This great tech innovation is rapidly gaining momentum in the field of education (as well as in industry).  These 3 dimensional codes can adorn bulletin boards, class notes, worksheets and allow for interactive scavenger hunts. 

Learn more with this Livebinder

See previous posts featuring QR Codes

Scavenger Hunts

The Ace

Pick up your rosin bag and deliver this Ace:  Flip your classroom!  Pick a piece of content that can be delivered via video instruction and send that instruction home!  Students can then complete supplemental materials via Sophia, Collaborize Classroom or Edmodo.  The beauty of flipped instruction is that once the at home video instruction is complete, within the class students can play games, practice or demonstrate understanding through interactive projects.  A sure winner!  To explore more:  The Flipped Classroom

The Middle Reliever

The seventh inning stretch can’t come soon enough, but ClassDojo can ease the way as you’re standing on the mound.  Class Dojo is a digital behavior management system available via a website AND an app.  This tool allows the teacher to create avatars and customize positive as well as negative behaviors to monitor.  This tool has anticipated the needs of elementary and middle school teachers alike and allows for multiple students, multiple classes, groupings, a student selection tool and reporting capabilities.  Class Dojo even allows your pinch hitter (substitute teachers) to monitor class behavior!!  Explore more in this Livebinder  

The South Paw

Weebly/Wix

These free customizable websites allow you to create your own on-line lessons in an easy to access format.  Use Weebly or Wix as a host for a gamified lesson or unit or simply use it to curate content in an appealing way for students to access.  Not familiar with web editing or .html?  That’s okay!  These websites provide drag and drop interface and templates that allow the user to quickly create vibrant webpages.  You’re in the wheelhouse with this one!

Coach's Choice

Socrative.   Looking to take care of that clean up hitter?  Try Socrative.  It’s GUARANTEED to make ‘em swing!  Think of Socrative as a replacement for interactive clickers…it is like putting a remote control into the hands of all of your students.  Socrative pushes out interactive content into your students devices and allows them to respond.  It provides immediate feedback and reporting capabilities.  Here's a great list of free Socrative quizzes including a getting to know you quiz! A plug and play way to get that BIG K!

The Rookie

Newer on the scene, Thinglink has great potential for integration into any content area.  Thinglink allows you to create OR upload an image and then hyperlink content within that image (in multiple locations)  See here  Whether using it to deliver interactive content or for student creation of content, scout Thinglink for a new unique way for students to use technology within the classroom.

Don’t get caught waiting for the bus.  Join the bigs with any of these tech strategies, and I guarantee you’ll pitch a winner this year!

Now That's Using Your Smarticles!!

QR Codes....Pimping those Pixelated Patterns

If you've integrated QR Codes into your classroom already, congratulations!!  You've discovered how engaging those be-speckled little buggers can be.   Teachers have discovered a plethora of great ways they can be integrated into the classroom.

What are QR Codes?  Click here for more:  http://mainideaqrhunt.weebly.com/what-is-a-qr-code.html

As QR code use continues to evolve, there are some features that perhaps you DIDN'T realize about QR Codes.

They can be MORE than Just Black and White!!

Do you like attractive colorful posters, worksheets, stations and more?  Several sites offer the option to create colorful codes that scan just as easily as regular black and white codes.

http://www.qrstuff.com
http://www.qr4.nl/Candy-QR-Generator.aspx -->




Morph them....add a Logo, Words, or Animations! 
Coloring, pixel editing, logo integrating and complete morphing of the codes is now a possibility.  Make your codes more dynamic and more interesting!.  I like color coding and numbering mine when setting up stations...the black and white ones all look the same to me.

This site allows pixel by pixel editing:   http://www.qrhacker.com

Animate your QR Code!:  http://blog.qr4.nl/Animated-QR-Code.aspx

This site allows you to morph and change the look of the code and add logos: http://www.unitaglive.com/qrcode


This site allows you to turn an image into a QR Code.  http://www.visualead.com








You Don't always HAVE to Have a Wifi Connection
QR codes can house text without the need to hook up to wifi.  Great for 'bring your own device days' where one wants to avoid having students access district networks OR for field trips.  Students can scan a code at designated stations and read the supplemental information.  A great way to consolidate paper packets!

How to create a text only QR Code using http://www.qrstuff.com

• Select:   "plain text"
• Enter your text
• Select:   Use our qrs.ly URL shortener 
• Your QR code will build as you type
• Change the color
• Save your QR code. Click: 

They Can Link Straight to a Map Location

Social Studies teachers delight!!  Studying locations or landforms?  Several QR Code generators offer the option to link straight to a specific map location:

http://www.qrcode.cx/
http://blog.qr4.nl/QR-Code-Geographic.aspx

They Can Link to a Dropbox URL

Do you have a dropbox account?  Did you know that every document in Dropbox has a unique URL?  This includes files, images, pdfs, videos, etc.  Capture that URL and convert it to a QR code if there is material you want your students to view.

How to create a QR Code that links to a file in your dropbox

• Select the image you want to link to.  Then click this symbol:  

• When it takes you to "Share this Image" select:

• This URL has now been copied.
• Next, open a QR Code generator:  kaywa.com, qrstuff, etc.
• Select 'Website URL' as your content type and paste in the code.  Generate the code.
• Now you have a QR code linked directly to that dropbox image.  

So jazz 'em up teachers!  Pimp those codes.  It's one MORE way to use Your Smarticles!!

For more QR Ideas:  

http://www.yoursmarticles.blogspot.com/p/qr-code-ideas-and-resources.html

http://mainideaqrhunt.weebly.com/what-is-a-qr-code.html

QR Code Book Review Project

I'm QUITE excited about our latest project. We are going in front of a Green Screen to conduct book review projects!! In our school, our audio-visual technician in the high school has worked diligently to develop a routine news broadcast created by students called Viking Vision. These broadcasts take place in front of a green screen and are very professional and well produced.

Attempting to capitalize on the availability of this resource, my middle school students and I are going to venture up to the high school to 'green screen' a few of our book reviews. Once the book reviews are recorded, we are going to upload them into Dropbox

.
What is GREAT about dropbox is that for each uploaded file, you now have the ability to create a unique URL to that file. Those unique URLs can be 'captured' inside a QR Code. Therefore, each video I upload into a drop box can be seamlessly linked through a QR code. The QR codes that we develop are going to 2 places.

#1. We are going to insert them into the school library books and develop a QR Code scanning station so kids can come and watch video previews of books before they loan them.

#2. We've created a QR code book review bulletin board. Guests with smart devices can scan and view video recordings of book reviews on our class bulletin board.

Click here for a Student guide to writing a book review

QR Code Scavenger Hunt

If you've followed my blog for some time, you may have noticed that I'm a bit of a QR code queen (or quack).  I love those quirky codes and feel that they have unlimited potential for use in the classroom.  As more and more technology emerges in districts (ipads, smartphones, ipod touch, e-readers, wifi access) There are more opportunities to re-write lessons and activities to integrate QR codes.

Following this trend, I decided to 'makeover' a classic scavenger hunt that I've always done to include QR codes.  In the activity, students practice utilizing context clues to determine the meaning of unknown words (a very VALUABLE skill and one focused on in the new Common Core Standards)

To conduct the scavenger hunt the students need to 'scan' a QR code and read a context clue question.  As they answer the question (and write the answer on the worksheet) they will be led to an envelope which contains a different question (and context clue).  When that question is answered, the students are given a key letter to be used in solving a riddle.

I have never gone wrong with this lesson.  I like to call it a 'plug and play' lesson.  Students are working cooperatively, enthusiastically and are engaged in the learning.  It is truly one of my favorites!!

Check it out at my TpT store OR follow my blog and leave me a message and I'll send it to you for free.   :)

Now that's using your smarticles!!

Open House - Keeping in Contact

Open house coming up?  Try these neat ideas for facilitating parent communication!

#1.  Generate a "me card"  QR Code.

Try leaving a QR code out for parents to scan that contains INSTANT contact information!








Here's How!

• Go to this site that generates QR Codes  

• Edit the information to reflect your own contact information.

• Encourage parents with smart devices to 'scan' the code.  Your contact information will import directly into their contact list.

 Try it!!  Scan this code:

Not sure how to scan?  What is a QR Code?  Watch this Prezi:  http://prezi.com/xpuntxxnmwzo/qr-codes/

#2.  Register with Remind

Remind is a free account that allows teachers to build classes, register parents and PUSH notification out to parents about important events occurring in the classroom.

Good communication....happy parents!

Now THAT's using your smarticles!!

Student Display Work...See It, Scan It, Hear it

With the year kicking into high gear, I've decided to redesign a classic display that I have used in the hallway. Most years I have the students complete an "I Am" poem as an introductory assignment and nice display to have in the hallway. This year, I plan on taking that project and implementing two new features. One facilitates integration of the Common Core Standards (by encouraging and demonstrating fluency) and the second facilitates the integration of some excellent technology--QR Codes.

My plan is to post the decorated and typed poems in the hallway.  But as an added feature, I am also going to have my students record themselves reading their poems.  These recordings will be stored in a QR code that links to those recordings.  With the QR code displayed on the wall near each student's poster, anyone with a smart device can scan the QR code and hear each student's recitation.

How to do it:

#1. Here is the organizer for the "I Am" Poem:  http://www.scribd.com/doc/19459636/I-Am-Poem

#2. For the recording, I have downloaded a free app called Audioboo.  Students are NOT required to create an account to use this app, they simply press record and read their poem.

#3. Once they have finished recording, they give their "boo" a title, save + upload.  Audioboo will give an option to copy the link to this uploaded recording when you press the share symbol.  I am having my students save this to a 'note' on the ipads so they can use it later.

#4.  In my building, we do NOT have the ability to print from our ipads. So for this next step, it's off to the desktops!!   The students will then use the site kaywa.com.  By typing the link to their audioboo into Kaywa, they can generate a QR code, print the code and adhere it to their "I Am" poems.


Viola....a multi-media student display.  Anyone with a smartphone and 'scan' app can hear the students reading their poems as well as see them.    See it....scan it...hear it!

Want to hear mine?? 

 

Now that's using your Smarticles!!

 

 

Cooking Up a QR Code and GeoCache Concoction

This is not my first exploration into the power of the QR Code in the classroom. Previous forays into this excellent little piece of technology have afforded my students with a fabulously unique experience as outlined in this December blog entry: QR Code Blog

If you are unfamiliar with the QR Code, I invite you to explore this Common Craft video which succinctly describes the QR Code.

My most recent experience with QR Codes was NOT small, NOT straightforward and most certainly could have been accomplished without the QR Codes, but what DID happen was just outside of the technordinary.

technology + extraordinary = Technordinary!

With the help of a zeal-filled student teacher, I designed a hybrid QR Code Scavenger Hunt featuring Geo-caching. A dynamite way to integrate outdoor exploratory learning and QR Codes. To explain what we did, I've broken it into tages.

Stage #1: Design


-Create a 4 slide Powerpoint Presentation on a Person of Significance

-Upload powerpoint to Edmodo backpack

-View uploaded powerpoint in a New Window and 'capture' the unique URL for that page


-Open Kaywa to generate a unique QR code for that URL

-Paste the URL under Content Type: Text and generate your QR Code.

[At this point the teacher collects the QR Codes to hide in predetermined locations or 'cache' locations throughout the school property. If you are unfamiliar with Geocaching, please see this blog entry on the Geocaching concept]

Stage #2: Search

-Enlists the help of parents armed with GPS devices.

-Provide the latitude/longitude coordinates of each hidden 'cache'

-When students locate each cache, they remove 1 QR code from the container. Each QR code represents one Powerpoint presentation.

-Gather ALL QR Code Caches

Stage #3: Data Gathering


-Arm student groups with ipad2 or greater, ipod touch (2nd generation or greater) or another smart device with an app that has the ability to scan.

For a list of QR Code Scanning apps, click here:

-Have students scan each QR Code, view the Powerpoint and take notes.


A smorgasboard of technology and learning. Now THAT's using your Smarticles!!

QR Codes - Classroom Implementation

Armed with my new i-pad (sans wifi access) I decided to convert some existing classroom materials into activities that can be introduced with QR Codes. My latest idea was to take a six +1 traits of writing rubric activity and update it with QR Codes.

Here is how it works.

#1. Students evaluate pieces of writing based on the Writing Trait of Ideas
#2. Students read the expectations on HOW to score a piece based on that trait.
#3. Students score each piece
#4. Students use a QR code reader (I used my i-pad....NO WIFI connection required) to reveal the actual score that the piece should earn.
#5. Scanning a second QR code reveals the rationale for the score.

Not too fancy schmancy, just a quick, clean and easy way to get off the ground with QR codes.

Download the free lesson here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/75257220

Creating QR Codes: http://qrcode.kaywa.com/
Free QR Code Reader on i-pad: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/qr-code-reader-and-scanner/id388175979?mt=8


On a scale of 1 - 10, I think this lesson is a:

Now THAT's using your smarticles!!!